Pneumatic dispatch system



5,1933 c.T.cuTnNG PNEUMATIC DI SPATCH SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb.

Dec- 5 1933- c. T. CUTTING PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1'7,1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zar/ Z/ Dec. 5, 1933. c. T. CUTTING PNEUMATICDISPATCH SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 Dea, 5, 1933. c,T. CUTTING PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM Filed Feb. 17, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet4 @NLHP )l Ka -1 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 PNEUMATIC DISPATCH SYSTEM i ClarkT..Cutting, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Lamson Company, Syracuse,N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 17, 1932.Serial No. 593,527

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic dispatch systemsand more particularly to an improvement in inlet terminals in suchsystems.. v

Such inlet terminals are of a push through type wherein the pressureofthe head of the carrier to bedispatched opens the inlet valve incontradistinction l*to the well-known type 1. 'wherein a clapper valvemust be lifted before the carrier te be dispatched can be inserted intothe terminal. These inlet terminals may be used in conjunction withoutlet terminals as equipment for a receiving and dispatching stationwhich may include either `a casing into which carriers are deliveredor anap valve-receiving s terminal or may be used independently of a receivi'ng terminal at a station where dispatching ralone takes place.

The terminal mechanism includes as well as the valve which normallycloses the inlet passage and which is opened by the inserted carrier, asecond valve by which air is allowed to escape from or to enter thesystem concomitantn 1y with the insertion of the carrier, therebyimpairing the carrier-transmitting flow of air and also, when` desired,introducing into the line a stop which would positively prevent anycollision with the inserted carrier. v.

. The objects of this invention are to provide inlet terminals somounted and constructed that there will be` attained the desirableresults .outlined above, as Well as other features which will appearfrom an examination of the following description and of the drawingswhich form a part `thereof and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation with partsbroken away of a carrier-receivingand dispatching station, which includes a casing enclosing theterminals, and which embodies this invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of such station;

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and side elevations of the valve of the inletterminal of such station; f Fig. 5 is a view in elevation with partsbroken away of another type of carrier-receiving and dispatching stationembodying this invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of such station; l

Fig. 7 is a view inelevation of a carrier-dispatching station embodyingthis invention; and Fig. 8 is a viewl in lelevation of such stationtaken at right angles to the view shown in Fig. 7.

The various embodiments illustrated in the drawings each 4comprise amain transmission tube 10 which may be circula-1' in .Cross Section, Yasin Figs. 1 to 4, or oval, as in Figs. 5 to 8,- and into which carriersare inserted through an inlet or dispatch terminal 11 mounted upon orintegral with a station section 12 of the transmission tube 10 andnormally closed by a spring-actuated Valve 13. The valve 13 is pivotallymounted upon a pin or shaft l4'to swing inwardly under impact of theforward head of the carrier to be dispatched.

The stationv illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive N comprises inaddition to the inlet or dispatch terminal 13, an outlet or receivingterminal 15 normally closed by a apper valve 16, here shown, of leatherorother flexible material, from which the carriers are discharged into atray or box 17. The main tube 10 is bent into the form of a U and it, aswell as the station section 12 and the outlet '-';erminal, is enclosedby a casing 18 from the bottom of which the tray 17 projects. Thecarriers designated for such station are deflected from the main tube tothe outlet terminal by guide means of any suitable type. The inletportion 'of the section 12 bears against the casing 18 in which anopening 20 is formed to permit access to such portion.V A guiding flange21 mounted upon the outer face of the'casing facilitates 80 theintroduction of `the carriers into the inlet terminal.

The valve 13 closes the opening 20 and is held in such position by meansof a spring 22 acting upon the shaft 14. In the station section 12 is 85formed a second opening 23, normally closed by a valve 24. As shownparticularly in Figs. 3 and 4, the valves 13 and 24 are carried by arms25 and 26 respectively, Which project from and may be,

as here shown, integral with a sleeve 27 through 90 which the shaft 14is passed. The arms 25 and 26 terminate in plates 28 and 29respectively, to which the valves 13 and 24 are secured in any suitablemanner, the valve 24 being reinforced by a plate 30. Obviously theswinging of the valve 13 into open position by the carrier head causesthe valve 24 to open simultaneously and thus provides a direct.connection between the transmission tube and the atmosphere and vimspairs the effective ow of air. When, as is the usual custom, thecarriers are transported by vacuum, the opening of the valves impairsthe.

- action of the vacuum upon the carriers approaching the station, sothat they come substantially lto rest until the inserted carrier hasbeen dispatched and the valves are closed by the spring 22, restoringthe system to its operating condition.

The station shown in Figs. 5 and 6 also comprises, in addition to theinlet terminal 11, an

outlet terminal normally closed by a clapper valve 36 and has in thestation section 12 an opening 37 normally closed by a valve 38. Suitablemeans may be provided to guide certain carriers to the outlet terminal,but since such means form no part of the present invention they will notbe described herein. The valves 13 and 38 are mounted upon`theoppositeendsci, an angular bracket il) vvpivotally supportedintermediate'its .7. ends upon the shaft lll. A spring 4l connected toone end of the bracket 40 holds the valves in their normal closingposition. The carriers are',

guided through the station section..12,by an in-. ner arcuate wall 42,to which one end of the spring 41 is attached. The end of the, bracket40which supports the valve 13, terminates in atongueAS, which when thevalve is opened projects into the path of travel of the carriers throughthe section,

a slot #i4 being provided in the lower edge of the wall e2 to permitsuch movement. 1 A guidn' ilange i5 is mounted upon kthe section 12about the carrieropening Litoassist in the insertion of "thecarrier.'""

The insertion of a carrier opens the valve 13 and simultaneously opensthe valve 38, thus impairing thetransmitting rlov/ of air, as describedabove, with'respe'ct to the "embodiment shown in jFigs. 1 to abut alsomoves the'tongue 43 into the position shown in dotted lines VinI Fig. 6so that `any collision with the inserted carrier is posi- "tivelyprevented. ycarrier is 'inserted another carrier is'passing It, however,'at the time the v"through the terminal, the tongue will strike suchsecond carrier so `the"va1ve 13 can not be fully opened. When thisoccursthe operator' Will,lof course, Wait until' the car-rier inVtransit has passed. The bracket' 40 is unbalanced sincethe portion belowthe shaft 14 is appreciably heavierithan thatwabove the shaft liso thatthe partsl will :normally assume thefull-line"position'of Fig. 6,

'eventhoughthe spring 4l were omitted.

'54 at the lower end'of the bracket 53 will' project,

through a slot inthe guiding wall 56, intorthe Y lpath of travelvoiv thecarriers when the valves iii ` 3 and 52 are opened by the insertion of acarrier and function in vthe same way as'r'the tongue i3. A' suitable`flange 'lf'upfon' the section l2 surrounds the opening 50'to guide theinsertion of the carriers. The bracket 53, like the bracket 40 "of theembodiment shown in Figs. 5 and' 6, is unbalancedand the valves arenormally closed.

While no spring is here shown, it might be provided, if desired, undercertain operating condi- Y"It will be noted that in each embodiment theinlet valve 13 and the air valve move simultaneously, y'and that the airvalve moves outwardly so that the suction setup in the system, if the"carriers are ltransmitted. by vacuum, acts upon vthe air valve andtends to close it, aswell as the inlet valve Hence, the'vacuum in thesystem,

, as well as'the unbalanced condition of the bracketsand the spring,closes and holds closed the jinlet valve except 'when such valve ispositively opened by the insertion of carriers. Furthermore, since, aspointed out above,the

i opening of the airvalve aifects adversely the flow of the air throughthe system, more particularly in the case of a vacuum system, the dangerof collision between the inserted carriers and those in transit issubstantially eliminated.

The station section 12 is shown in the various embodiments as consistingof two suitably joined castings. It will be understood, however,

Athat lamnot limited to such castings land that the term station sectionis used herein to designate the portion of the transmission tube at thestations where carriers are dispatched, or

.are dispatched and received, which portion may be, oi any desiredmaterial or construction.

While certain embodiments of the invention Vhave been shown .anddescribed, I am not limited thereto, since other embodiments might bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas setforth in the following claims.

I claim: l.v vIn a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a transmissiontube through which carriersare transmitted by the flowof air set uptherein, and an inlet terminal including a station section upon the tubehaving an inlet passage therein through which carriers are introducedinto the transmisfl sion tube a valve normally closing said passage, andmeans operated when said valve is opened to disturbthe v flow of air inthe tube, saidrmeans comprising anopening in said station section, a

valve normally closing said opening, and connections between said valvesby'which the valves are positively opened or closed concomitantly.

' 2. ln a pneumatic dispatch systemcomprising atransmission tubethroughwhich carriers lare 'transmitted by the flow of air set up therein, andan inlet terminal including a station'sectionV upon the tube having' aninlet passage therein through which carriers are introduced into thetransmission tube, a valve normallyV closing said passage, and meansoperated when said valve is opened to disturb the iiow of air Iin thetube, said means comprising an opening in said station section, a valve'normally closing said opening and a pivotally mounted member upon whichboth said valves are secured and by which both valves 2 are opened Yorclosed coric'omitantly.

' 3. In a pneumatic dispatch systemcomprising a transmissiontubethroughwhich carriers travel and an inlet terminal including'a station siectionupon the tube having a carrier receiving openingtherein and a secondopeningtherein, a

valve .normally closing the carrier receiving opening, means fornormally closing the second opening in the section, and means wherebythe opening 'closing means uncovers the Iopening concomitantly with theopening of the valve and closes the opening concomitantly with-theclosing ofthe valve.

4. In a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a transmission tube throughwhich carriers travel and an inlet terminal including a stationynormally closing the carrier receiving opening, a

second valve normally closing the second opening, a member pivotallymounted intermediate its, ends on the station section, to the ends ofwhich. said valves are secured, whereby the valves are: movedConcomitantly into the opened and closedl positions, and a tongue on oneend of the member' which projects into the transmission tube when thevalves are opened to prevent the passage ofi carriers by the inletterminal at such time.

6. In a pneumatic dispatch system comprising: a transmission tubethrough which carriers are: transmitted by vacuum created by a flow ofair set up in the tube, and an inlet terminal'. including a stationsection upon the tube having., an inlet passageY therein through whichcarriers. are: inserted into the transmission tube, a Valve normallyclosing said passage and adapted to:A be opened inwardly upon thepressure thereon of head of the carrier so inserted, an opening the.station section, a valve normally closing said opening and adaptedy tobe opened outwardly away from the opening, and means by which the valvesmove concomitantly.

7. In a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a transmission tube throughwhich carriers are transmittedrby vacuum created by ai flow of air setup in the tube, and an inlet terminal including a station section uponthe tube having an inlet passagek therein through which carriers areinserted into the transmission tube, a valve normally closing saidpassage and adapted to be opened inwardly upon the pressure thereon ofthe head of the carrier so inserted, an opening in the station section,a valve normally closing said opening andadapted to be opened outwardlyaway from the opening, and a member pivotally mounted on the stationsection to which said valves are secured whereby the valves moveconcomitantly.

8. In a pneumatic dispatch system comprising a transmission tube throughwhich carriers are transmitted by vacuum created by a ow of air set upin the tube, and an inlet terminal including a, station section upon thetube having an inlet passage therein through which carriers are.inserted into the transmission tube, a valve nor-- mally closing saidpassage and adapted to bei opened inwardly upon the pressure thereonof.'

.a transmission tube through which carriers are. transmitted by vacuumcreated by a flow of air-` set up in the tube, and an inlet terminalincluding? a station section upon the tube having an inlet passagetherein through which carriers are inserted into the transmission tube,a valve normally closing said passage and adapted to be opened inwardlyupon the pressure thereon of 4the head of the carrier so inserted, anopening in the station section, a Valve normally closing .said openingand adapted to be opened outwardly away from the opening, said secondvalve when lopened being closed by the action of thevacuum in the'tube,and means connecting said valves whereby the opening of the rst valve bythe :insertion of a carrier opens the second valve and the closing ofthe second valve by the vacuum closes the rst valve.

l0. In a pneumatic dispatch system comprising .a transmission tubethrough which carriers are transmitted by vacuum created by a flow ofair :set up in the tube, and an inlet terminal includ- .ing a stationsection upon the tube having an inlet passage therein through whichcarriers are :inserted into the transmission tube, a valve nor- .mallyclosing said passage and adapted to be -opened inwardly upon thelpressure thereon of the head of the carrier so inserted, an opening inthe station section, a valve normally closing said opening and adaptedto be opened outwardly away from the opening, a member pivotally 13,5

which projects into the path oftravel of car- 12@ riers through thetransmission tube;

CLARK T. CUTTING.

